[Fellowship Zurich] SwissPass privacy?

[Daniel Pocock]

On 22/11/15 18:56, Samuel Gyger wrote:
> There was never any discussion over this topic in switzerland, some talk
> in the news (perhaps 2 articles) but everything went really fast, and
> suddenly it was there.
> 

Yes, very nice that they should sneak in something sinister like this on
a public holiday in the middle of summer when everybody is on vacation.


> There is no anonymization of the Customer data before it is read by the
> conductor. The QR code just contains a link to your digital profile at
> SBB, and they then check your status online. (Perhaps they have a
> database of all valid GAs on the cellphone, because I got also checked
> in the tunnel, where I had no reception).
> 
> Otherwise there is only the promise that they will store the data
> anonymised and if you write them, that you don't like your data to be
> sold to other companies, they won't do it.
> 
> Not a lot that you can do here. As everything is now through. The good
> part is that the Half fare isn't checked very often digitally. (Put this
> could change when it's one year past since the swisspass was introduced)
> I myself was very surprised that there was not more outcry over the
> obvious privacy problems with the SwissPass.
> 

I would expect several things to change - it is called bait-and-switch

Once they have forced it on everybody they will sack some of those extra
staff they hired or they will militarize them like in other countries
where these systems have become very adversarial.  People here seem to
have a lot of respect for the transport system and the staff, that
doesn't exist in other countries that have gone to automated systems.

One incident well known in Melbourne involved the "ticket inspector"
picking up a 15 year old girl and throwing her on the ground[1].  I tend
to think of somebody like that primarily as a child abuser who also
happens to be a ticket inspector.  20 years ago Melbourne had conductors
on trams and trains, like Switzerland, now there is a private army
instead, they don't sell tickets or answer questions for passengers,
they just hunt in packs, setting up ambushes at the exits from tram
stops or platforms.

It has a nasty effect on society in general when people see this type of
gangland behavior on their way to work every morning.

It also means people doing dangerous things to avoid the cavalry like
crossing railway tracks instead of using the passageways.  While there
are not so many accidents, it means they have to invoke safety
procedures, slow down the trains, etc, so everybody suffers.

SBB may well look at putting automatic gates at station entrances too,
this will involve creating lots of fences around platforms and generally
making the stations feel a bit more like prisons.  The openness of Swiss
railway stations today is a nice thing that people will reflect on when
it is gone.

Another nasty surprise in there is that they now do automatic renewal.
People will have to cancel their annual GA at least 1 month before the
expiry date or they are screwed.  Maybe a good idea to send a registered
letter opting out of automatic renewal, marketing and data sharing.

Looking at the terms and conditions, it says you can't keep the card in
a wallet or RFID protective cover:
http://www.sbb.ch/content/sbb/en/desktop/abos-billette/abonnemente/ga/ga-erwachsene/_jcr_content/relatedPar/relateddownloadlist/downloadList/gtc.spooler.download.pdf

and it also says that you must hand it to the ticket inspector every
time and they don't have to give it back.

One positive thing I noticed is that business customers can still buy
the regular card (for now).

Regards,

Daniel

1.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/ticket-inspectors-used-excessive-force-to-restrain-15yearold-girl-over-suspected-250-fare-evasion-ombudsman-report-finds/news-story/c2495b482818fd176b663d4db3fa8c86?=